Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 710 Life doesn't need to be so perfect.
After three exams, Xia Lin and Emperor Jingtai knelt before the chessboard, both looking extremely unwell. Why? Well, they failed the exams.

If this got out, people would laugh their heads off. The emperor aside, who is Xia Lin? A pioneer who single-handedly created a new education system, the creator of the Jiangnan Academy system, a science sage, and a sect patriarch. Now, he can't even outperform his own students, or even his students' students, in exams.

"Is it funny?" Emperor Jingtai turned around and glared at Old Zhang. "I'd like to see how many points you can get on the test."

Old Zhang coughed and stopped smiling: "Your Majesty, things have come to this point, why don't we go eat first?"

"Who set the questions?" Xia Lin tapped the table. "Let's have a talk. The questions were too difficult."

"What's so difficult about it? If you can't do it, just say so. The questions in the Jiangnan exam were compiled after many mock exams. If you can't do it, someone else will."

Emperor Jingtai stroked his chin and pondered for a moment: "You're doing the Southern Scroll, right? What kinds of questions are in the Southern Scroll?"

The two sides exchanged questions, and the questions in the southern exam paper made Emperor Jingtai shrink his neck and click his teeth.

However, now the whole world is talking about this exam. While the difficulty of the North exam is somewhat daunting, it is still within reason. But the South exam is really a bit exaggerated.

Not only is it completely different from the past, but the difficulty is also astonishing. The most terrifying thing is that if you haven't had the corresponding education, you might not even be able to understand the questions.

There are indeed craftsmen, but no one seems to have done any stress analysis on the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, let alone drawn the stress distribution curve of the water flow during the flood season...

While others found it strange, the Minister of Works had already started offering incense to Li Bing at home. After all these years, the craftsmen's work had finally reached a more refined level.

This time, many people have seen a glimmer of hope in breaking the monopoly. It is indeed difficult, but at least one thing is certain: the word "hope" has reappeared before everyone.

Amidst the murmurs of conversation, Xia Lin and his companions headed to the food court at the Northern Han venue, where Douya and Jinlian were already waiting for them.

Bean Sprout, dressed in a gorgeous women's outfit, sat there with her bare shoulders partially exposed, attracting frequent glances even from Jinlian, who was also a woman.

When a woman sees another woman's beauty, she usually feels envy, jealousy, or even resentment. Jinlian was no exception. She equally envied and even felt jealous of every girl who appeared around Xia Lin, whether it was Hong Yuan, who had been arranged by Xia Lin to go on a trip these past few days, or the Princess, or Tang Bao'er.

She envied their good fortune, their abilities, their family background, and their looks, but she felt no envy when facing this woman today.

The aloofness and haughtiness of the little bean sprout made her feel unapproachable. It is said that Nuwa created humans, and it seems that Dugu Bean Sprout is the one that Nuwa carefully sculpted, while everyone else is just a speck of mud that she casually tossed aside.

The three pushed open the door and entered. Old Zhang exclaimed "Hey!" and looked around, asking, "Where's Wu Ning? Bean Sprout, have you seen Wu Ning?"

Douyazi's almond-shaped eyes widened, and Old Zhang quickly changed his tune: "Hahahaha, Brother Dayun, have you seen Wu Ning?"

"He went over there to ride a bull."

"This person is really a handful."

At this moment, Emperor Jingtai walked in, looked around with his bean sprout-like hair, and asked, "Patriarch Dugu has made a great sacrifice today. Where did these clothes come from?"

Dugu Han didn't even bother to acknowledge the emperor, but Jinlian covered her mouth and exclaimed in surprise, "Patriarch Dugu!?"

"Oh dear, I was originally too busy with palace affairs to come over, but today I heard that the Dugu family head was to be dressed in women's clothing. I even turned down the banquet for the envoys of seventeen countries. We have known each other for thirty years, but this is the first time I have seen the Dugu family head so charming and beautiful."

"You're just talking nonsense." Xia Lin sat down, picked up the yogurt bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

However, before he could even swallow it, he choked on a large mouthful, the white, cloudy liquid covering his mouth and face. Emperor Jingtai moved back with a look of disgust: "Disgusting."

Meanwhile, Old Zhang brought Wu Ning back from outside. As soon as he entered the tent, he saw Xia Lin with a pale face. He was stunned for a moment, then turned around and looked at Emperor Jingtai: "Your Majesty, that was fast."

Xia Lin wiped her face clean with a towel, took a sip of water, and then pointed at Old Zhang and said to Emperor Jingtai, "Tomorrow I will first purge the court of corrupt officials; such treacherous ministers are unacceptable."

After a long chatter, Emperor Jingtai also felt a bit hungry. He had just taken a bite of something when he turned around and saw Wu Ning sitting next to Dugu Han, staring intently at her chest. Judging from his curious expression, he probably wanted to confirm whether she was a woman or a cross-dresser.

"Oh dear." Emperor Jingtai shook his head helplessly. "You're all like family, aren't you? By the way, speaking of which, it's been over ten years since I met Daosheng and Zhongchun. Ah... it's not easy. By the way, why didn't you bring my sister today? What happened? Did you have a fight?"

Xia Lin squinted at Emperor Jingtai, his expression turning very strange. Old Zhang's expression was the same. After a long while, Xia Lin finally spoke, "They should still be floating on West Lake eating vinegar fish right now."

"Oh...right, right, I forgot about that. It's just that I'm being considerate of you. You need to abstain from women for half a month while taking that medicine, so I'm giving them money to help you recover."

"What medicine?" Old Zhang grabbed Xia Lin: "You little brat, now that you have something good, you don't even think of me anymore, huh?"

Xia Lin waved his finger: "Go to the pharmacy at No. 14 East Street and find that old man. He can prescribe the right medicine for you."

At this point, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became quiet again. Emperor Jingtai was slowly cutting and eating meat with a small knife when the sound of fireworks outside broke the silence. "Your Majesty, how did you meet Lord Xia and the others back then?" Jinlian's professionalism was indeed high. Seeing that the atmosphere had suddenly become awkward, she quickly tried to smooth things over: "It sounds very interesting."

One sentence plunged all three men into memories.

On that fine spring day, two young men from Luoyang, full of ambition, traveled south. On that day, amidst extravagance and debauchery, the young prince of Lin'an reveled in wine and song.

From a single poem to today's 100,000 banners, fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The story here can be divided into three parts, and each person is the protagonist of their own story. Xia Lin's journey has not been without its sweet moments, and Tuoba Jing's years have not been filled with great success.

They had their share of suspicions and rivalries, and almost took an irreversible step together, but now that time has passed, looking back, it all seems rather laughable.

"Many years ago, Daosheng sang a song there. Wasn't it called 'A Laughter in the Vast Sea'?"

“Yes.” Xia Lin nodded.

Looking back, I was startled to realize the meaning behind the words.

"Sing a verse, sing a verse." Wu Ning, who also had a rather informal habit, said, "The three of you sing together."

Old Zhang nudged her lightly with his elbow, but this small gesture did not escape the eyes of Emperor Jingtai. He laughed and waved his hand, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. It's just that I haven't sung in the evening song for many years, so I'm a little timid."

“You sang quite a lot when you were young,” Dugu Han added, “You’re the one I love to sing the most.”

"Very well, then I will make a fool of myself today. Zhongchun, go and play the zither for me."

Old Zhang agreed and went out. A short while later, he returned with a zither. Everyone was eagerly waiting for Emperor Jingtai to sing a song, but a problem still arose.

Just as Emperor Jingtai was about to speak, a guard entered inappropriately: "Your Majesty, Grand Commandant Gao is seriously ill and may not survive the night."

This news stunned everyone present. Emperor Jingtai turned his head and asked, "Did he show any signs beforehand?"

"No, it was this afternoon that Grand Commandant Gao suddenly fainted. The imperial physician diagnosed him and said that the only treatment was to use acupuncture to seal the acupoints, but there was no other cure."

The group exchanged glances and stood up. Emperor Jingtai said, "Let's send him on his way. At least he's a worthy opponent."

Xia Lin responded, "Actually, he's a very good opponent."

His enjoyment was interrupted, but there was nothing he could do. As he left the venue, Emperor Jingtai glanced back at the fireworks that were constantly blooming in the sky and sighed silently, "There are still so many regrets in the world."

The three of them rushed to the Gao residence as quickly as possible. There were already quite a few people there, including Gao family descendants, some court officials, and influential figures from various aristocratic families.

When news of Emperor Jingtai's arrival arrived, the people of the Gao family waited at the gate early in the morning. However, before the welcoming ceremony was even over, Xia Lin had already taken the lead and entered through the side gate.

He walked through the Gao residence in plain clothes, yet no one dared to approach him or ask him anything. Even those who were waiting for Gao Shilian to die made way for him.

As for why he didn't smile at anyone the whole time, after all, everyone standing here has been his enemy since Anzi died. There are only four months left of the one-year agreement with Anzi, and most of the people here will be killed in four months. Giving them even a half smile now would be superfluous.

When they arrived at Gao Shilian's house, Gao Shilian's son instinctively reached out to stop them as they were about to enter. Xia Lin didn't say anything and just stood there staring at him for a while. In the end, Gao Shilian's son silently stepped aside.

Upon entering the room, one sees the treacherous minister who once fought against Emperor Hongbao for over thirty years now lying on the bed, his head covered with gold needles, his breathing weak, his face expressionless and indifferent.

The sound of his footsteps seemed to startle Gao Shilian, the weathered old man slowly opened his eyes, but he was no longer able to speak, and could only laboriously move his hand to beckon to Xia Lin.

Xia Lin stepped forward, and Gao Shilian suddenly grabbed his hand and tried to forcefully guide it under the pillow.

"Is it a pillow?"

Gao Shilian nodded weakly, while Xia Lin reached inside and found a letter.

"it is this?"

Gao Shilian used his last bit of strength to hum in response, and then fell silent.

Thus, the most powerful and longest-serving prime minister in the history of the Great Wei Dynasty passed away at the age of seventy.

(End of this chapter)